Most of 34 Dem No-Voters Likely to Escape Payback

Only 3 health reform naysayers face serious primary challengers
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 29, 2010 8:13 AM CDT
Most of 34 Dem No-Voters Likely to Escape Payback
Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., one of the most vulnerable of the 34, and challenger Regina Thomas, shown Tuesday, July 2, 2008 in Atlanta.   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Despite all the criticism labor groups and liberals lobbed at them after the House health care reform vote, most of the 34 Democrats who voted no actually don't have to worry about their own party's fury. In many cases it's too late to launch a feasible challenge to incumbents; in others, even those most critical of no-voter Dems balk at the risk of turning seats over to the GOP.

More than half of the gang of 34 are retiring, have already secured their nominations, or have passed the state filing deadline for candidates, Politico reports. Eight more are in states where filing deadlines are too soon to realistically be met, and most of the rest face only weak challengers. Only three—John Barrow of Georgia and Mike McMahon and Mike Arcuri of New York—are in serious danger of losing their re-nomination.
(More Stephanie Herseth Sandlin stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X